Vericel Corp.’s Maci for repairing cartilage defects in the knee has been approved by the U.S. FDA via a supplemental biologics license application. Using a patient’s own cells cultured on a porcine collagen membrane, Maci Arthro is delivered arthroscopically and allows for repair of knee cartilage defects up to 4 cm².

Product liability is always a point of concern for manufacturers of medical devices and other U.S. FDA-regulated products, and the broad contours of product liability jurisprudence are well known by corporate counsel. However, artificial intelligence products are rapidly pressing their way into routine clinical use, representing a technological shift that may occasionally deviate from the existing rules of the road where product liability is concerned.

The U.S. CMS said its Medicare administrative contractors withdrew a draft local coverage determination that would have restricted the use of surveillance testing for allograft rejection.

Researchers from Case Western Reserve University and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, continue their development of a neuroprosthetic which comprises a system of implanted or wearable sensors.

Medtronic plc hit a sweet spot with its diabetes devices, with the unit leading the company in growth in its first quarter 2025 results. Diabetes device sales grew 11.8% to $647 million for the quarter, an important boost that pushed total revenue up to $7.9 billion ($8.01 billion, adjusted), a 2.8% reported increase or 5.3% exchange rate impact. No other unit saw more than single-digit increases in sales.

Getinge AB agreed to acquire Paragonix Technologies Inc. for $477 million, including upfront and earn out payments. The deal marks Getinge’s entry into the global organ preservation and transportation market, a rapidly advancing field driven by rising transplant volumes, technological innovations and evolving clinical practices.

The long struggle by Boston-based I2o Therapeutics Inc.’s business unit Intarcia Therapeutics to get long-lasting exenatide for diabetes onto the market ended with a final thumbs-down from the U.S. FDA because of safety concerns. At issue was ITCA-650, a twice-yearly implantable exenatide-device combo meant to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s broad rule banning noncompete employment clauses was struck down by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. In a final judgment from Judge Ada Brown, the court set aside the noncompete rule, saying it won’t be enforced or take effect as planned on Sept. 4.

The U.S. FDA recently granted Medtronic plc approval for its deep brain stimulation (DBS) system to be used to treat Parkinson’s disease or essential tremor while a patient is asleep, under general anesthesia. The approval gives patients another option for DBS therapy which can transform their quality of life, Amaza Reitmeier, vice president and general manager for Medtronic brain modulation, told BioWorld in an interview.

Stryker Corp. continued its aggressive M&A program this year with the planned acquisition of Vertos Medical Inc. Vertos offers a minimally invasive lumbar decompression (Mild) solution for chronic lower back pain caused by lumbar spinal stenosis. The announcement brings Stryker to six deals so far this year: Société d'Etudes, de Recherches et de Fabrication (SERF) SAS, Mfphd LLC, Artelon Inc., Molli Surgical Inc., Care.ai Inc. and now Vertos. Financial terms were not disclosed for any of the transactions.